Marco Carola & Adam Beyer – Fusionframe EP

cant agree anymore with 3c3ts review, and to this day 2019 still loving it !

To me this double pack is an incredible release, packing in 8 tracks that typify the very peak of the Swedish and Italian techno sounds in the late 90s. "Building Shaker" remains a favorite ten years later, and can be held up as a great example of timeless cuts from this era.

Like so many other Zenit or Drumcode records, "Fusion Frame" was a strong double pack back then, but can hardly be placed anywhere today. It is a fine collection of linear DJ tools, but unofrtunately that is where it stops. As one would expect, the production is top notch, the focus on every drum kick is obvious, the flow is just great, which made this a must have for every european DJ. Hell, even I had a copy, and I am nowhere near being one. That said, rocking this through in your room probably won't leave you satisfied as you when these cuts were dropped in a club.
My main gripe with this record is the obvious intent to satisfy DJs, and single them out as the targeted audience, while, if I may put it so, hungry techno heads have to look elsewhere. Not that producing club friendly music is wrong, but in my opinion when a lot of european labels started imitating the whole Purpose Maker move - this was the unfortunate outcome. Great production, massive sound, never overly layered, catchy and wonderfully pitched sequences with neck snapping percussion, but it is all shallow.
I mean, when you hear this on a proper sound system in a good club, you will think St. Peter in person is descending from the heavens as a cherubic squadron of angels drops the musical backdrop! That said, playing these same cuts at home will have you pushing the cueing button on your record player more than anything else.
Anyways, it is worth owning if you liked stuff like the Remainings series from Adam Beyer or the "1000 Collection" by Carola. If you want something more challenging and engaging, may I suggest skipping this one, and as far as Zenit goes, head to Marco's "Open System" album from 2001.

This is a fine pack of well-produced DJ tools, no doubt. Both Beyer and Carola are extremely skilled at their trade, but somehow old elements get recycled into some of the tracks, and much of it begins to sound too-over-the-head obvious. My choices would be FFM and Unbound, since they seem to pose new ideas beyond the huge-drums-only sound, and are definite movers.